Median Income
$52,500
household / year
Median Home Value
$308,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$822
gross / month
Cost of Living
95
national avg = 100

Is Westcliffe, CO a Good Place to Live?

Westcliffe is a small town of 443 in Colorado, with a median household income of $52,500 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Westcliffe stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Westcliffe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Westcliffe city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.3

Westcliffe's overall cost of living index is 95.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Westcliffe costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric Westcliffe, CO National Avg
Median Home Value $308,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $822 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 73.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $52,500 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Westcliffe's violent crime rate is 335.4 per 100,000 residents — 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
335.4 /100k
Property Crime
789.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Westcliffe is served primarily by Custer County School District Consolidate 1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Westcliffe, CO National Avg
School District Custer County School District Consolidate 1 —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 10.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 37.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 95.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Westcliffe sees average highs of 39.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July, with 13.6 inches of annual precipitation and 84.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricWestcliffe, CO
Average High — January39.6°F
Average High — July80.6°F
Annual Precipitation13.6"
Annual Snowfall84.3"

Demographics

MetricWestcliffe, CONational Avg
Population443—
Median Age47.438.9
Unemployment Rate6.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)91.0%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino5.9%18.9%
Asian2.5%6.3%
Under 1817.8%22.2%
65 and over19.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Silver Cliff, CO 4 mi Crestone, CO 16 mi Cotopaxi, CO 20 mi Rockvale, CO 23 mi Williamsburg, CO 24 mi

Westcliffe vs Other Cities

Westcliffe, CO vs Silver Cliff, CO Westcliffe, CO vs Crestone, CO Westcliffe, CO vs Cotopaxi, CO Westcliffe, CO vs Rockvale, CO Westcliffe, CO vs Williamsburg, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Westcliffe's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Westcliffe roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $308,500 and median rent is $822/month.
Westcliffe's violent crime rate is 335.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 789.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Westcliffe are operated by Custer County School District Consolidate 1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 37.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Westcliffe, CO has a population of 443, a median household income of $52,500, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Westcliffe averages 39.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.6 inches with about 84.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Westcliffe, Colorado is 443 with a median age of 47.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Westcliffe: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $308,500, median household income $52,500, crime index 68 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Westcliffe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.